Have you ever gathered with friends for an epic night of strategy, competition, and, of course, a bit of friendly banter? If so, you’ve probably heard of Catan—one of the most legendary board games of all time. But what if we told you there’s a way to turn that tense resource management and dice-rolling into something even more fun? That’s right: by adding drinks! Welcome to the world of Catan drinking game, where winning roads and rolling sevens gets a whole lot more interesting.
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What Is the Catan Drinking Game?
Catan (formerly “The Settlers of Catan”), a strategic board game designed by Klaus Teuber in 1995. Players compete to build the most successful settlement on the island of Catan.
Now, add drinks to the mix, and you’ve got the Catan drinking game! Following the standard rules with a few “adult” twists, you’ll be sipping whether you’re celebrating victory points or bemoaning lost resources. Let the drinks flow as freely as your trades!

The Core Mechanics of Catan Gameplay
Before diving into the fun of drinking rules, let’s go over the basics. Players compete to build settlements, cities, and roads by gathering resources like wool, grain, lumber, and ore. Each turn starts with a roll of the dice to determine which resources are produced.
Players with settlements adjacent to the right hex tiles collect those resources and can then use them to build or trade with other players. It’s a delicate balance of strategy, negotiation, and occasionally a bit of luck.
The board is made up of hexagonal tiles, which are randomized for each game, making every session unique. The first player to score 10 victory points, or having the longest road or largest army—wins the game.
Catan Expansions: Explore New Frontiers
As Catan’s popularity grew, several expansions were introduced. Here’s a quick overview of the best expansions:
- Catan: Seafarers: Venture beyond the mainland by building ships, exploring islands, and claiming new land. Adds adventure with seafaring strategies and colonization.
- Catan: Cities & Knights: Adds complexity with city upgrades, knights to fend off barbarians, and new commodities (paper, cloth, coin). Ideal for experienced players seeking a deeper challenge.
- Catan: Traders & Barbarians: Features smaller scenarios, new trading routes, barbarian invasions, and a 2-player variant. Great for a relaxed or smaller game night.
- Catan: Explorers & Pirates: Explore unknown lands, avoid pirates, and settle new territories. Adds a layer of adventure and excitement with pirate encounters.
The standard Catan is fun, but we’re about to ramp it up with some simple drinking rules for extra excitement.
Core Catan Drinking Game Rules
Now, onto the fun part: drinking rules! Whether you’re playing the classic version or one of the expansions, these rules will turn your game night into a hilarious, unforgettable experience.
Basic Drinking Rules (Light Drinking)
- The Lucky Seven: Rolling a 7 isn’t just for moving the robber! When a 7 comes up, the player to your left has to drink, just like in the classic 3 Man dice game.
- Thumb Master Settlement: Build a settlement to become Thumb Master. Place their thumb on the table; last to follow drinks. The role changes with each new settlement.
- Speed Up Trade: Players have 10 seconds to finish the trade. If they fail, both drink.
Medium to Hardcore Drinking Rules
- Doubles Dare: Roll doubles? Let’s play Do or Drink. If they refuse the dare, they have to take a drink instead!
- Longest Road/Largest Army for Buffalo: Follow the Buffalo drinking game and take a sip with their non-dominant hand. If anyone catches them using their dominant hand, they must finish their drink!
- Victory Shot: When a player wins the game, it’s celebration time! They start drinking, and then everyone else must join in the Waterfall until the first player stops.
Catan Expansion Pack Drinking Rules
If you’re playing with expansions, here are some extra drinking rules:
Catan: Seafarers
- Christen the Ship: Anytime you build a ship, everyone must take a sip to “christen” the new vessel.
- Island Toast: If you explore a new island and are the first to settle it, make a celebratory toast. All other players must drink in your honor.
- Pirate Attack: If the pirate attacks your ship, you must take a drink for each ship affected.
Catan: Cities & Knights
- For the King!: Each time you activate a knight, shout “For the King!” and take a sip.
- Barbarian Loss: If barbarians destroy one of your cities, you must finish your drink and downgrade to a settlement.
- Defensive Toast: Anytime the barbarians advance toward Catan, everyone raises their drinks in a “defensive toast” to rally against the threat.
Catan: Traders & Barbarians
- Merchant Trade Sip: Every time a merchant is placed on the board or a trade is completed, both players involved in the trade must take a sip.
- Barbarian Revenge: If a player loses to a barbarian raid, they must take two drinks as punishment for their defeat.
- Gold Mine Toast: If you collect gold, you must make a toast, and the other players take a drink to “celebrate your fortune.”
Catan: Explorers & Pirates
- Set Sail Sip: Anytime you sail to a new region, take a drink to celebrate the journey.
- Pirate’s Plunder: If a pirate attacks your ship or prevents your movement, you must take a shot for each ship affected.
- New Land Toast: If you settle on new land, all players must raise their drinks to toast the discovery.

Optional Catan Drinking Game to Boost Fun
Catan-Themed Drinks
Why not go all-in and create Catan-themed drinks based on the game’s resources? Each resource can have its own drink, and players can “trade” drinks in addition to resources!
- Brick: A red cocktail or drink, like a classic Negroni or strawberry daiquiri.
- Lumber: A refreshing green drink, like a mojito or a matcha latte.
- Wool: Something light and frothy, like a piña colada or a whipped coffee.
- Grain: A golden drink, such as a beer, whiskey sour, or golden ale.
- Ore: A dark drink, like a stout beer, dark rum, or espresso martini.
Bonus Rule: Anytime you gain a resource, take a small sip of the corresponding drink!
Catan Mini-Challenges
Custom some mini-challenges when buying a development card. These mini-challenges add extra excitement and variety:
- Switch Seats: You must swap seats with another player for the next turn (bringing your drink with you).
- Resource Reversal: You must trade one resource card with the person sitting directly across from you.
- Silent Turn: Play your entire next turn without speaking. If you speak, take a sip.
- Resource Master: Choose a resource type. Every time it is rolled until your next turn, everyone except you must take a sip.
Team-Based Catan Drinking game
If you have a larger group, try a team-based version. Instead of going solo, teammates work together, making joint decisions, sharing resources, and supporting each other through the highs and lows of the game.
- Players pair up, sharing resources, drinks, and penalties.
- Each team makes collective decisions for building, trading, and playing development cards.
- If one player fails a task or penalty, their partner must complete a challenge as a fun consequence (e.g., sing a song or complete a task chosen by the group).

Add Fun Challenges to Your Settlers of Catan Game
The Catan drinking game takes your favorite board game and adds a whole new layer of fun and unpredictability. Whether you’re celebrating a new settlement or commiserating over lost resources, this drinking game will keep the night lively. So grab your drinks, rally your settlers, and roll the dice—cheers to your next Catan adventure!